Tri-City Sun

There were 15 African American students enrolled in Essexville-Hampton Public Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 16.7% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Essexville-Hampton Public Schools welcomed 1,500 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 1% of the student body, making them the fourth most represented ethnicity in the district.

Essexville-Hampton Public Schools roughly covers four schools within Bay County and has its main office in Essexville.

Among the four schools in Essexville-Hampton Public Schools, Cramer Junior High School and Garber High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of six students.

Overall student enrollment in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels, with white students experiencing the largest decline at 6.5%.

Academic performance has also suffered, with the state's average NAEP score dropping by 6.5 points and ethnic achievement gaps widening. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total African American Students	African American %
2022-23	1,500	15	1%
2021-22	1,538	18	1.2%
2020-21	1,589	22	1.4%
2019-20	1,695	22	1.3%
2018-19	1,717	24	1.4%
2017-18	1,721	31	1.8%
2016-17	1,713	40	2.3%
2015-16	1,694	35	2.1%